The Shelley Tasker Show

Broadcasts live every Wednesday at 7:00p.m. uk time on Radio Soapbox: http://radiosoapbox.com

Happy New Year and welcome back to The Shelley Tasker Show, live from radiosoapbox.com. In this lively 2026 opener, Shelley and co‑host Mallifficus Scott banter about dry January, winter blues, voice‑note marathons, Cornish accents, and post‑viral recovery before recapping last week’s year‑in‑review and favourite clips. They reminisce about a Boxing Day gig, muse on time flying, naps, and gaming vs. box‑set comforts, then pivot into weather headlines, "multi‑hazard" jargon, and local snow chaos. The conversation widens into books, public school trauma, integrity, and the power of decluttering, before diving into geopolitics: UK/US entanglements, Venezuela, manufactured consent, and whether external intervention is ever justified. 

 Guests Debbie Hicks and Piers Corbyn join to preview this weekend’s Truro digital rally on digital ID, cash, surveillance, farming protests, and the links they draw between digitalisation, wartime legislation, and conscription. Debbie outlines how lockdown resembled a national emergency drill and tracks historical parallels (ID cards, limits on jury trials), while Piers argues for practical non‑compliance, keeping cash, challenging in‑store surveillance, and backing Europe’s farmer convoys. The show closes with community calls to meet at Truro Cathedral, reflections on parenting, growing older, AI’s odd “deep dives,” and a dash of lighthouse lore, all wrapped in big tunes and bigger spirit for 2026.

Broadcasts live every Wednesday at 7:00p.m. uk time on Radio Soapbox: http://radiosoapbox.com

In this lively New Years Eve edition of The Shelley Tasker Show, a Montage has been created outlining a few of our guests in this News Years Special.   Run‑in with school holiday fines, online “support” group dramas, and the everyday absurdities of bureaucracy, before a past parade of spirited guests. Colin returns with his Parliament Square arrest story from the “Defend Our Juries” action, sharing why his stand was about free speech and against proscribing non‑violent groups. We then dive into activism, media narratives, AI music, and digital ID with contributors including Debbie Hicks and musician Ryan Lander, while my co‑host Mallificus brings humour, common sense, and a few soggy worksite tales. We also explore menopause with a brilliant workplace metaphor, laugh at AI’s hilariously wrong biographical guesses, and question the reliability of news in an age of deliberate misinformation.

Hour two features Cornwall’s own Tony Goodman of Electric Carnage, revealed as the voice behind the viral “Cornish Trump” wall sketch. Tony skewers EV policy, smugness, and modern groupthink while championing choice and free speech. In a powerful, moving segment, activist Tony Bevington recounts the loss of his son following mandated vaccination, raising hard questions about accountability, data transparency, and digital ID creep. Across protests, policy, AI, and personal loss, this episode blends truth‑to‑power candour, Cornish wit, and community spirit—ending with festive cheer and gratitude for our listeners who’ve been with us all year.

Broadcasts live every Wednesday at 7:00p.m. uk time on Radio Soapbox: http://radiosoapbox.com

On this festive live Christmas Eve edition of The Shelley Tasker Show, Shelley and co‑host Mallifficus Scott share light‑hearted seasonal chatter—wrapping woes, cream‑tea etiquette, and serendipitous reunions—before paying tribute to the late Chris Rea with reflections on The Road to Hell and its prescient lyrics. The hour flows into cosy Christmas memories, school‑concert giggles, and the joy of small kindnesses to neighbours, then welcomes special guest Eric Von Essex for sparkling banter from “Fockham Hall” about tradition, language, and the gentle power of laughter. Later, Paul English joins to muse on moonlit nights, the calming ritual of reading by candlelight, and how thoughtful conversation counters modern agitation. Amid the cheer, the panel touch thoughtfully on media narratives, history, and the importance of discernment, while keeping the tone warm, witty, and humane. They close with heartfelt wishes for a peaceful Christmas, gratitude for family, and a look ahead to a New Year’s Eve retrospective of the show’s best moments from the past year. Cheers to clotted cream, good tunes, and better conversations in the year ahead!

Broadcasts live every Wednesday at 7:00p.m. uk time on Radio Soapbox: http://radiosoapbox.com

In this candid and wide-ranging episode, I’m joined by my co‑host Mallifficus Scott for a festive-season catch‑up before welcoming returning guest Tony Bevington. We reflect on the week’s irritations and small joys, from relentless weather warnings and Christmas sparkle to community moments that lift the spirit. Then Tony shares his powerful personal story of losing his son following the COVID vaccine and his ongoing fight for answers and accountability. We discuss the wider landscape of inquiries, reporting systems, government transparency, and the lived experience of bereaved and injured families. The conversation broadens to community, resilience, civil liberties, digital ID concerns, and lessons Tony learned from years living and working in Papua New Guinea, Botswana and Micronesia—stories of culture, courage, and connection. We close with practical reflections on localism, skills, and the value of genuine community in uncertain times.

Resources mentioned include Tony’s memoir My Wings of Destiny (Amazon), UK bereaved and injured family support groups, and breathwork practices that have supported Tony through grief and change. It’s an episode about truth-telling, compassion, and finding light together at the close of the year.

Broadcasts live every Wednesday at 7:00p.m. uk time on Radio Soapbox: http://radiosoapbox.com

We welcome Cornish YouTuber Tony Goodman of ElectricCar-nage for an hour of spirited banter and straight-talking truth. We trace Tony’s journey from mischievous local radio beginnings and viral parody fame (including his legendary Cornish Donald Trump) to his irreverent critiques of EV culture and modern conformity. Tony shares how boredom, humour, and a love of free speech led him into content creation, why he needles the “floaterati,” and how honest conversation—plus a bit of good-natured ribbing—can cut through division.

We also unpack Tony’s pointed intervention at Cornwall Council’s debate on mandatory digital ID—complete with his now-famous “20,000 Cornishmen” quip—and what that overwhelming council objection really means. Along the way we talk Cornish identity, accents, censorship, and why choice matters more than tribalism. It’s an hour of wit, warmth, and unfiltered authenticity from a proud Cornishman who would rather laugh at the madness than be told what to think—or drive.

Broadcasts live every Wednesday at 7:00p.m. uk time on Radio Soapbox: http://radiosoapbox.com

Co-host Mr Scott sits in for Shelley and welcomes broadcaster Eric Von Essex for a wide‑ranging, good‑humoured conversation that blends personal history, media literacy, and local culture. We discuss Cornwall’s pull, smuggling lore, lost chapels in the dunes, and how pubs and parish life once anchored real community. Eric shares moving family recollections from Malta, Sicily and D‑Day, the gap between Hollywood myth and wartime reality, and why he published his father David J. Powis’s memoir, My World War Two, to set the record straight. We explore propaganda old and new, from Disraeli and Chesterton to modern “thumbscrew tightening,” phones-as-cages, staged political theatre, and the power of humour to puncture tyranny. We also trail an upcoming Christmas special on the 1914 Christmas Truce and a forthcoming mini‑series on nuclear energy myths featuring Galen Windsor—plus shout‑outs to independent artists listeners can support. Resources mentioned include Powis’s book, the warveteran.co.uk site, archive.org for Lt-Col J. Creagh Scott’s Hidden Government, and indie music from Blood Ruby, First to Eleven, Whom By Fire and Trevor John. Listeners are invited to join the conversation, share local stories, and reconnect with neighbours—because community begins on your own doorstep.

Broadcasts live every Wednesday at 7:00p.m. uk time on Radio Soapbox: http://radiosoapbox.com

In this lively episode, I’m joined by my co‑host Mr Scott and later our guest, musician “Rhinelander,” for a wide‑ranging chat that blends winter weather banter, community moments, and a deep dive into AI’s accelerating role in music. We explore an AI-generated 1950s Motown cover of Eminem’s “Without Me,” discuss UK/Russia headlines, and reflect on the human touch versus automation—from phones and social media through to art, photography, and recording. Rhinelander shares how his band experiments with AI to enhance rehearsal-room recordings, the ethics of credit and labelling, and why imperfections and live feel still matter. We compare production quality, creativity, and cost, muse on carbon footprints of data centres, and touch on the broader cultural implications of AI, from media to gaming—and even conscription talk abroad. We also celebrate small wins: launching our new one‑page links hub and Discord chat, and finding joy in local community connections and live music. Across the hour, we spin standout tracks and covers, including acoustic interpretations and AI‑aided pieces, using them to test whether listeners can hear the difference between ‘handmade’ and machine-shaped sound. The conversation lands on a simple conclusion: AI can smooth the rough edges, but soul, story, and shared experience still come from humans—preferably with a good guitar, a warm pub, and a nodding head keeping time. 

Broadcasts live every Wednesday at 7:00p.m. uk time on Radio Soapbox: http://radiosoapbox.com

In this candid and refreshingly human episode, I’m joined by my co‑host Mallifficus Scott and his sister, Janet, for an honest conversation about perimenopause and menopause—what it really feels like, why it’s so misunderstood, and how partners can better support each other. We swap stories about brain fog, hot flushes, restless legs, incontinence, anxiety, and intrusive thoughts, and Janet shares her brilliant workplace-style analogy that makes the hormonal chaos instantly understandable. We also touch on practical support: HRT myths and benefits, diet tweaks (protein, veg, healthy fats; watch seed oils and refined sugar), strength training over high-impact cardio, the role of the vagus nerve, and why soy and palm oils are everywhere. Along the way, we chat about school attendance pressures, ‘flu vs COVID’, media trust, and a dash of BBC/Trump headline-watching—plus a few laughs at our own expense. If you’re approaching “the change”, living with someone who is, or just want a grounded, compassionate primer with humour, this one’s for you. And yes—Janet’s analogy is in the show notes so you can share it with the men in your life!

Resources and references (mentioned in conversation)
- Janet’s menopause analogy: “Drastic Changes to the Workforce” (included below)
- Topics to explore: HRT (modern body-identical oestrogen), strength training for midlife women, vagus nerve breathing/stretching, seed oils vs olive/coconut/butter, soy as an oestrogen mimic, menopause symptoms list (NHS), perimenopause vs menopause timeline
- Practical tips: lift weights 2–3x weekly, prioritise protein/veg/healthy fats, reduce refined sugar/alcohol/ultra-processed foods, consider yoga/Pilates/mobility for cortisol control, read labels for soy flour/palm oil

Drastic Changes to the Workforce – by Janet
Two sisters, Susan and Janet Ovary, down tools with no handover after years prepping the reproductive suite. Enter Bob from the adrenal department—king of cortisol—who now must keep the peace with oestrogen he’s not built to make. He recruits chaotic ‘minions’ (fat cells) that stockpile everywhere, clog corridors, and build an unsightly front extension while trying to eke out oestrogen. The thermostat’s broken (hot flushes), a loo leaks (bladder changes), and the whole workforce can’t find balance. The Hazard Response Team (HRT) may stabilise things, but it’s now about damage control and adapting to the new normal. It’s messy, maddening—and strangely liberating when you finally name it.

Broadcasts live every Wednesday at 7:00p.m. uk time on Radio Soapbox: http://radiosoapbox.com

In this lively Bonfire Night episode of the Shelley Tasker Show, I’m joined by my wonderfully sardonic co‑host, Mr Mallifficus Scott, for a warm, rambling catch‑up that swings from soggy UK weather and sleep‑deprived creativity to clocks changing, calendars, and the cozy comforts of autumn. We chat music-making mishaps, seaside nostalgia, wetsuit woes, the joys and perils of electric cars, and language quirks, before wading into spikier territory: remembrance parades and red tape, gender and changing‑room policies, schools and pronouns, ‘furries’ and litter boxes, and how bureaucracy and culture wars shape everyday life. We close with nods to news (Dick Cheney’s passing, prisoner release blunders), Cornwall curios, and a reflective segment on post‑WWII history that challenges received narratives—rounded off with tunes to lift the mood and see you into the week.

Expect banter, honesty, a few rants, and a lot of heart—from beach walks and Blackadder to harmonies, poppies, and the peculiarities of modern Britain.

Broadcasts live every Wednesday at 7:00p.m. uk time on Radio Soapbox: http://radiosoapbox.com

Good evening, wonderful people! On this lively midweek show, I’m joined by my co‑host Mr Mallifficus Scott for two hours of candid chat, laughs and a fair few eyebrow‑raisers. We kick off with the tech turmoil of a global Microsoft outage and muse on how fragile our infrastructure has become, before skewering a “simple” BBC explainer on climate change and the media’s outrage machine. We dive into free speech with a jaw‑dropping real court reading on so‑called hate speech, then counterbalance it with Rowan Atkinson’s eloquent defence of robust dialogue—and a classic Steve Hughes bit on being “offended.” Along the way we wander delightfully through life updates: late‑night music jams, turning a home office into a mini‑museum of family history, the joy of decluttering lofts and cutlery drawers, shaggy rugs and scratch‑happy pets, piano practice triumphs, and an unexpectedly wholesome engagement shoot. We also touch on migration headlines, digital ID creep, and the never‑ending budget woes—asking who really benefits from manufactured outrage. Same time next week—bring your favourite beverage and your best scepticism.

P.S. Next week we’ll share a brilliant resource for researching World War I veterans in your family—don’t miss it.